Slamdance 2014 Preview

20 years in and Slamdance is still considered the upstart in Park City. A veteran with the spunk of youth then, the fest has become one of the premiere places to scope out first time directors and truly low-budget independents. Yes, the DIY spirit is alive and kicking (down doors) at Slamdance, and this year with the big anniversary, things look to be a good 'un. So let's take a gander at some highlights from the fest's narrative and documentary competitions, plus a few films from their Beyond (second or third time directors) program.

Student academy award winning filmmaker Mark Raso brings us a tale of angry young men, dark family secrets, and the transformative power of love. Like a smart pop song, Copenhagen consistently subverts expectations and finds magic in its melancholy.

Narrative

Goldberg & Eisenberg

Oren Carmi's absurdest drama about a programmer and a thief played well to audiences at Fantastic Fest last fall. We're sure it'll find more fans here.

Narrative

I Play With The Phrase Each Other

Young people love their cell phones. Young people live on their cell phones. Jay Alvarez's feature debut is comprised entirely of young city folks' conversations on their cell phones. Call it Slacker for the digital age.

Narrative

The Sublime And The Beautiful

Blake Robbins explores the days and weeks after a Kansas family's earth-shattering tragedy... and just how far a father is willing to go for closure.

Narrative

Elliot

Last year's Grand Jury and Spirit award winning narrative feature The Dirties explored the extremes someone obsessed with, and insulated by, movies can go to. Elliot may very well be this year's The Dirties. Except Elliot isn't fiction.

Documentary

Little Hope Was Arson

An East Texas community reels from the fires of a near dozen Churches, only to have to come and face their faith and the nature of their perceived good deeds head-on, when it is found out that the arsonists are some of their own.

Documentary

Skanks

A community theater in Birmingham Alabama decides to put on a gender bending musical. David McMahon is there to document it.

Documentary

Sometime I Dream I'm Flying

In this beautifully shot and beguiling doc, Aneta Popiel-Machnicka chronicles five years in the life of a young Polish ballet student.

Documentary

Crimes Against Humanity

Jerzy Rose seems to have crafted a movie that's just as wonky as his namesake. An academia infused, conspiracy fueled comedy, it sounds like an early Michael Chabon novel brought to the big screen. We'll see how this one plays.

Beyond

Forever Not Alone

Monja Art and Caroline Bobek focus in on a teenage crew of Viennese BFFs and a life-changing summer that will test their childhood bonds.